Kansas Senator Inviting Others To Discuss The Issue

The Commercial Spaceflight Federation says that Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS), the former Chair of the Senate Science and Space Subcommittee, will be hosting an event for his Senate colleagues and their staff on Thursday to discuss commercial spaceflight.

Senator Brownback

"The private sector brings to the table many ideas for the next chapter of America's mission in space, and I look forward to hearing from leaders in the spaceflight industry about the best ways to achieve a thriving commercial spaceflight industry," Brownback said. "The growth of commercial spaceflight will lead to the creation of many highly-skilled, high-paying jobs.  My home-state of Kansas has been a leader in general aviation for years now, and I have no doubt that we will also be leaders in commercial spaceflight."

Norman Augustine

The keynote speaker is Norm Augustine, chairman of the Review of U.S. Human Space Flight Plans Committee, and other panelists include:

• Ken Bowersox, SpaceX's Vice President of Astronaut Safety.
• George Sowers, United Launch Alliance's Vice President of Business Development and Advanced Programs.
• William Claybaugh, Orbital Sciences' Senior Director for Human Spaceflight.
• Mark Sirangelo, Sierra Nevada Corporation Space Systems Chairman and Commercial Spaceflight Federation Chairman.

In his invitation letter, Senator Brownback asks his Senate colleagues and staff to "hear some of the leading private aerospace companies about what they believe the private sector can contribute to America's mission in space, and what Congress can do to make it possible."

FMI: http://senate.brownback.gov